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The BIg Mola Beauty Dish- Is it worth using it?
Most shooters I know have rented it once, and dismissed them... Even the rental companies joke about them. They're "clumsy" and "don't do anything a regular beauty dish does"... I think they have potential... Any input or samples of successful use would be appreciated. Jan 05 07 01:39 pm Link This is the first time I've heard anything negative about Mola dishes. You mean specifically the biggest one? The frosting pics in my port were shot with a Demi 22" one and a gold/silver zebra California Sunbounce for fill. Jan 05 07 02:46 pm Link JimmyD loves Molas: http://prettygirlshooter.blogspot.com/2 … ffair.html Jan 05 07 03:06 pm Link Cesar Cuevas wrote: They are clumsy--you're dealing with a rigid 33" (Euro) or 43" (Mantti) bowl which weighs much more than a softbox does. They need a sturdy stand, and--in my opinion--aren't well suited for monolights, as the dish is what mounts on the stand, with the light itself hanging off the back. Jan 05 07 06:08 pm Link i don't think they're clumsy. They're just not as convenient as softboxes and umbrellas and modifiers of that ilk. sure, ya can't fold them up and easily fit them in your trunk which, i suppose, means they're not a portable as many other modifiers. but is ease of use and ease of transportation really anyone's criteria for what makes a great modifier great? i don't know much about other manufacturer's beauty dishes but the ones i've seen aren't as big as the bigger molas. since the greater the diameter (aperture) of the light source, the softer the light, it would seem you'd have to place those smaller dishes practically on top of the subject to get the same softness my mola euro will produce at about 3 or 4 feet away. just a few of my thoughts on the subject. jimmyd http://prettygirlshooter.blogspot.com Aug 05 07 12:05 am Link Does anyone know if the Mola dishes fit hensel integra lights? Aug 05 07 12:15 am Link I'd like to try the Mola lights, but they're not quite in my budget right now. I do. however, own & regularly use the poor photog's AB beauty dish...a 22" dish that works really well for headshots provided I can put it close enough. Here's an example: https://www.modelmayhem.com/pic.php?pid=3531887 I like the round catchlights and the slightly more focused light than you get from softboxes. srd Aug 05 07 12:19 am Link I assisted this photog, John, a year ago when he was in San Diego and he has (or had) the big M. https://modelmayhem.com/pics.php?id=4693 The results were great and one can be seen in Madalina's port (San Francisco) like the bubble gum/pink bubbles shot with yellow eyeshadow. https://modelmayhem.com/pics.php?page=1&id=54172 The bracket for mounting was shot, though. He did mention is was quite the pain to keep up. Aug 05 07 12:25 am Link Started using Mola recently and I love it ... you can make them fit on most speedrings Maybe not as practical as a collapsable softbox or umbrella but I prefer Mola over either one for portraits YMMV Rudi A. Aug 05 07 12:28 am Link Aug 05 07 12:32 am Link The bigger dishes are as clumsy as you want them to be. For me they aren't. I fit the mantti in my boot, and I lug it around outside -- yesterday over sanddunes. the light is absolutely incredible. The biggest softest light but still giving the signature BD light output. Worth the effort I find. My passenger seat fits the setti (28"). My preferred modifier for outdoors - wind, rain, harsh aussie sun etc. Feb 14 10 12:50 pm Link Vibrant Photography wrote: Which one? The setti? Or all molas? Feb 14 10 02:19 pm Link I have the 28" setti and 43.5" mantti. Feb 20 10 04:59 pm Link The Hensel BD works but you'll have to work it for the proper placement, height, etc. So, it may be smaller than the Mola BD and less cumbersome, but, not as easy to use as the Mola BD. Not sure if there's bracket for Mola BD to attach to Hensel, mayabe Stephen Eastwood has some ideas on it. Feb 20 10 05:58 pm Link Mola's all I ever use, on EVERYTHING I SHOOT. EVERYTHING. Did I say... Ungrided unobstructed. Mola. Check me out www.kermithayes.com Dec 10 10 11:07 pm Link One thing to keep in mind... People that haven't used the item day in & day out will say things like:''that thing is clumsy", "I couldn't get it to do what I wanted", etc., etc., because, well, they haven't figured it out... That's like you going out & renting a jet tomorrow & then giving a review, that says that it's "not intuitive", "a real bear to fly", etc., etc., when in actuality, you've never flown before... If you are expecting similar results to a 22" dish, it just isn't going to happen. I suppose you could plop down a couple grand for some custom grids & make it replicate one, but for the most part, it's a different modifier... Here's some shoots w/ the 43.5": http://mola-light.com/blog/?p=216 http://mola-light.com/blog/?p=200 Dec 10 10 11:32 pm Link |
